While BAC Panama remained in top position, other Colombian-owned lenders fared less well in the Top 100 Central American Banks ranking, leaving the way open for Panamanian, Costa Rican and Guatemalan banks to make up ground.

Nicaragua's finance minister tells The Banker how government efforts to attract foreign direct investment to the relatively untapped energy sector are seen as crucial if the region is finally to shake itself out of poverty. Writer Silvia Pavoni

Nicaragua’s apparently reformed ex-Marxist president is enjoying some success courting private business and international lenders in his quest to combat poverty. Local banks are also doing well. Jane Monahan reports from Managua.